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By David Podvin

Hubie Brown is the classic "Old School" coach. He demands respect, discipline, and personal sacrifice for the good of the team. He prides himself on being a teacher who can coax untapped potential from his players.

Bonzi Wells is the paradigm of "No School". He is athletic, skilled, and so far, unteachable. In his career he has seemed absolutely convinced there is nothing to be learned that he doesn't already know.

Memphis General Manager Jerry West has decided to unite these seemingly incompatible men so they can cooperatively pursue basketball excellence. As the NBA's resident genius, West believes Brown and Wells can coexist well enough so that the Grizzlies will benefit from Wells' formidable skills without being torn asunder by Wells' formidable immaturity. It is a perception that is not widely shared, but genius is defined as the ability to see things others cannot.

Of course, that is also the definition of insanity. During his career as an executive, West has at times played the role of mad scientist. At one point, he anointed Doug Christie as the Lakers' point guard of the future. West was also the one who brought Dennis Rodman to Los Angeles, a move that worked out poorly for both the team and Carmen Electra. Now, Mister Clutch has chosen to mix coaching nitrogen with playing glycerin, combining the league's most demanding leader with the league's least obedient follower.

If all goes well, the Grizzlies will finally have enough offensive firepower to contend for the playoffs. The team will have enhanced its depth, improved its athleticism, and taken a huge amount of pressure off its young star, Pau Gasol. If the trade doesn't work - if Wells shows that an inability to get along with easygoing Maurice Cheeks did not imply the ability to thrive under hard charging Hubie Brown - then Memphis will be saddled with a chronic malcontent who has a big long term contract, a development that would be toxic for a rebuilding team.

Last year, West surprised the basketball world by hiring the antiquated Brown to coach a squad of young prima donnas, yet that unorthodox move has turned a listless franchise into a competitor. Now, the most admired general manager in sports has acquired Crazy Horse to help General Custer make the playoffs. In the event this gambit actually works, West will once again be voted NBA Executive Of The Year, and this time he should have his uniform number retired by Mensa. And if things fall apart, Bonzi Wells will have helped to sabotage his second front office in as many years, leaving him within striking distance of the coveted (but seemingly unattainable) record of destroying three teams in three seasons held by the legendary Marvin "Bad News" Barnes.